The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-08-22
SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD.
A Scientist of Distinction, the friend
of Audubon and Agassiz.

| Friday, were conducted by Rev. III. H. Meals
| of the Church of the Messiah at the resi-
dence of the United States commission. The
casket was borne to the railroad statson by
| ten sailors of the United States steamship
Fishhawk. in charge of Lieutenant Cleve-
| land, where it was put on board special
| train for the Fall River steamer to New York,
| from whence the remains were conveyed to
| Washington.
[Spencer Fullerton Baird was bornin Read
ing, Penn. February 8, 1923. His ancestors
were of English, Scotch and German origin.
| His father, Samuel Baird, a lawyer, was a
man of fine culture and great lover of ma
| ture, who died in 1925. Spencer and an ell
| der brother, William, inherited the fathers
tasts, and at an early age developed great
| interest in natural history. Spencer at the
age of 13 entered Dickinson College. While
| pursuing his course there, he formed great
| friendship with Audubon, and in 1852 the
latter gave him large proportion of his ex-
tensiye collection of birds. Mr.. Baird grad
by III health from accompanying Audubon
as his secretary on a six months expedition
in the Yellowstone country. In 1842 he fol-
lowed course in medicine at the College of
Physicians and Surgeons in New York city.
In 1S43 he made pedestrian tours for the col
lection of specimens in natural history, trav-
elllng distance of over 2200 miles.
In 1S45 he was chosen professor of natural
history in Dickinson College. and the next
year accepted the additional work of chem
istry. He remained in this position until
1850, declining call, which he received in
1S4S, to corresponding chair in the Uniyer-
slty of Vermont. He found time to carry on
the work begun in previous years. and to
make, In summer, extended collecting expe-
ditions to the Adirondacks in 1887, to Ohio in
1s4S to collect, in company with DIR. Kirt-
land, from the original localities types of the
fishes described by him in his work on the
fishes of Ohio; to the mountains of Vir-
ginia in 1S49, and to Lake Champlain and
Ontario in 1850.
The work which he had already done had
called attention to his scientific qualica-
tions; and in 1850, upon the urgent recon-
mendati0n of the late George z. Marsh, he
was invited to Washington as assistant sec
retary OF the Smithsonian Institution, where
he has ever since remained, succeeding to
the secretaryship in May, 1875 upon the
death of Prof. Joseph Henry. When Pro-
fessor Baird came to the institution it
was in its infancy,.and, upon him, as
as assistant secretary, devolved the de-
yelopment of the natural history collec-
tionss which were; then quite meagre. He
contributed his own extensive collections,
and these formed the nucleus of the Smith
sonian Museum to the interests of which he
devoted much care and attention. The
growth of the museum has been very largely
due to the scientific explorations which have
been organized by the institution and carried
out under the direction of Prof Baird. From
1850 to 1860 there were several government
expeditions to the Territories, and their
work so far as it pertained to natural his
tory was practically under his supervision.
Prof Baird has been one of the most
Voluminous contributors to scientific liter
ature in this country. His works up TO the
year 1882 covered 1868 titles, and large
number have been added since,
In 1871 Prof. Baird was appointed by
President Grant to the position of United
fafn g Ech f,chn nwfo
unsalaried office-to the duties of which for
eleven years he has devoted a large portion
of his time.
Prof. Baird's scientific attainments have
been fully recognized by numerous positions
of trust and attention from learned bodies.
In 1850 and 1851 he served as permanent sec
retary of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science. In 1876 he served
as one of the government board Of commits
sloners to the international exhibition at
international jury. In 1877 he was present
as advisory counsel at the sessions of the
Halifax Fishery Commission. He has re-
ceiyed many medals from foreign societies,
and from the King of Norway and Sweden
the decoration Of knight Of the Royal Nor
wegian Order Of st. Olaf"
He was one of the earliest members of the
National Academy of Sciences, and has for
many years been a member OF its council.
Besides honorary relationship TO many sell
entifc societies in the United States, he held
membership in many leading foreign or
CARNATIONS.
Prof. Baird received the honorary degree
OF nj. d., in 1S4S from the Philadelphia Med
lcal College, that of Doctor of Physical Sci
ence in 1856, from Dickinson College, and
that of LID. from Columbian University
in 1875.
Prof. Baird was man of large physique,
and until recent illness had always enjoyed
the most robust health. Devoted student
and hard worker that he was, he managed,
from love of it, to see and enjoy much out
door life. He reaped the profit not only in
healthfulness of body, but also of mind, for
ne was man of the utmost cathollclty Oh
view and charitableness Of temper. Even
his most cherished convictions were held
and stated with modesty and an absence OF
dogmatism which hid from view the unmov-
able tenacity of their roots His adherence
to the theory of evolution was stated with
courtesy and moderation.
Scientific literature did not absorb the in
terest or time Of Prof. Baird. BE was wide
~ read, even in the lighter realms OF litera-
ture. The latest biography or novel was
regularly to be found upon the tables Of his
study or parlor, aud the whole atmosphere
OF his home was redolent of culture OF
which he was centre, but of which his fami-
ly were generous participants. He and the
charming circle which his death may now
break will long be missed and mourned by
the culture and scholarship OF the capital.J
Professor Baird's Successo sors.
The general belief is that Professor Samuel
p. Langley, formerly of the Allegheny, Pa,
observatory, who was elected assistant secre-
tary of the Smithsonian Institute by the board
of regents last spring, will be elected Prof.
Baird's successor as secretary and director
and that Prof. g. Browne Good, assistant
fish commissioner, who has so materially
aided Prof Baird to establish the service,
will be appointed his successor as fish COM
missioner. No one now should attempt to
initiate Prof. Baird by administering both
offices. 1t cost him his life.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21.-The remains of
Prof. S. f. Baird were brought to Washing
ton this afternoon by special train. The
body was met at the depot by number of
the attaches of the Smithsonian Institute
and many personal friends. The casket was
taken to Oak Hill cemetery and placed
temporarily in the public vault.